Act 4, Apperance vs reality

(4.1.71-72) “Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Beware Macduff! Beware the Thane of Fife. Dismiss me enough”.

(4.1.78-81) “Be bloody, bold, and resolute! Laugh to scorn The pow’r of man, for none of woman born shall harm Macbeth”.

(4.1.89-94) “Be lion-mettled, proud, and take no care. who chafes, who frets, or where conspirers are: Macbeth shall never vanquished be until. Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill Shall come against him”.

The issue of appearances vs. reality in Act 4 is most pressing when it comes to considering the role of the witches in the play and their relationship with Macbeth. Some of the questions that Shakespeare raises about that relationship are: can the witches be trusted? Are they telling Macbeth the truth (what the apparitions tell the murderous King turns out to be true, but in a very misleading way) or are they influencing how the events of the play unfold? Moreover, why are they interested in helping Macbeth? Considering the context of the play and Shakespeare’s motives in writing it, it would make sense that the witches are devilish beings who are interested in causing trouble for Macbeth for random purposes. Or for revenge, given that they only invoke the apparitions once they are scolded by Hecate.

(4.3.61-65) “In my voluptuousness: your wives, your daughters, your matrons and your maids, could not fill up. The cisterns of my lust, and my desire. All continent impediments would o’erbear, That did not oppose my will

Shakespeare incorporates the theme of appearance vs. reality in Malcolm's dialogue to test Macduff's loyalties. Malcolm put on an appearance of unbecoming traits that would make for an awful king, however in reality, Malcolm is an honest man perfectly fit to rule the country. Malcolm's false appearance is an attempt to test Macduff's allegiance to the country. The appearance vs. reality theme is shown to apply in not only the domestic and supernatural spheres, but also in politics.